Ever since an enterprising prehistoric cave-lass first found a way to tie pretty stones on a string and wear them around her neck, women throughout time have looked to natty necklaces as a means of enhancing their allure by not so subtly drawing attention to their décolleté.
While the tradition of bedecking necks with beautiful jewellery has endured to times contemporary, the preferred pieces themselves have come in a variety of different shapes and sizes across the ages. In the ’70s, for instance, it was the more layered necklaces that the ladies loved, while the ’80s saw chunkier, oversized designs become the favoured sub-chin chintz. More recently, yet another statement trend has shifted centrestage – asymmetrical necklaces. Embraced as a style that boldly proclaims the wearer’s edgy independence, such designs have already graced the super-shoulder areas of such A-listers as singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani and actress Emmy Rossum.
The key to rocking this particular trend, apparently, is to keep it simple. Inevitably intended to be statement pieces, asymmetrical necklaces all but demand to go solo, virtually compelling you to pare back your other accessories. Be willing to go with the flow, however, as a streamlined silhouette and the exclusion of loud prints and bold colours will ensure the structural details of your haute joaillerie design both elevate your bone structure and leave you exuding an air of utter sophistication.
Text: Tenzing Thondup